AFCON: Tunisia dismantle Uganda and show their teeth at the start

In Group C of this year’s AFCON, it was clear even before the opening round that Nigeria and Tunisia were the main favourites. Nigeria completed their task against Tanzania, though not without some difficulty, while the same could not be said for Tunisia, who delivered a footballing masterclass against Uganda with a convincing 3–1 win.

Tunisia made a strong statement in the first half of their Group C Africa Cup of Nations clash against Uganda, heading into the break with a comfortable 2–0 advantage.

The Carthage Eagles started on the front foot and created an early chance in the 4th minute, when Ferjani Sassi met a pass on the edge of the penalty area and fired a shot straight down the middle, but Uganda goalkeeper Salim Magoola was alert and made the save.

Two minutes later, Tunisia went close again as Hazem Mastouri struck with his right foot from the centre of the box, narrowly missing the target to the left after a cross from Hannibal Mejbri.

Tunisia’s pressure paid off in the 10th minute. Hannibal Mejbri delivered a dangerous corner, and Ellyes Skhiri rose highest to power a header inside the left post, giving Tunisia a deserved 1–0 lead.

The North Africans continued to dominate possession and territory, and in the 27th minute Mejbri found himself unmarked on the edge of the box following another cross. He hit the shot first time, but the ball skimmed just past the left post in what was a huge opportunity.

Tunisia doubled their advantage in the 40th minute with a moment of real quality. Ali Abdi played a precise pass into the path of Elias Achouri, who struck the ball first time and curled it into the top right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance for 2–0.

Just two minutes later, Elias Saad nearly added a third, shooting from medium range but sending the ball just over the crossbar. Uganda struggled to create meaningful chances, with Rogers Mato’s long-range effort in the 44th minute flying well wide of the goal.

In first-half stoppage time, Mato showed more intent with a fine solo run and a shot from the edge of the area, but his effort was blocked by a defender, earning Uganda a corner.

Uganda showed more intent after the break, with Stephen Mukwala trying his luck in the 59th minute from the edge of the penalty area, but he failed to make clean contact and sent the ball well wide to the right. Tunisia responded shortly after, when Ali Abdi received a precise pass inside the box in the 61st minute and had time to pick his spot, but goalkeeper Salim Magoola read his effort toward the bottom right corner and produced a solid save.

The decisive moment of the second half arrived in the 65th minute. Elias Achouri reacted quickest to a rebound inside the penalty area and calmly fired the ball into the right side of the net, extending Tunisia’s lead to 3–0 and effectively putting the game beyond Uganda’s reach.

Despite the scoreline, Uganda continued to search for a goal. In the 70th minute, Denis Omedi unleashed a powerful long-range effort that flew just past the left post, coming close to pulling one back. Tunisia almost added a fourth in the 75th minute, when Firas Chaouat met a well-delivered cross with a header, only to see the ball sail over the crossbar.

Uganda threatened again a minute later through Toby Sibbick, whose long-distance shot looked dangerous and narrowly missed the right post, with the Tunisian goalkeeper relieved to see it go wide.

Only late in the match did Uganda manage to find a goal and somewhat soften the scoreline to 3–1.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE

Sunday

Morocco - Comoros 2-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 55, El Kaabi 74/

Monday

Mali - Zambia 1-1 (0-0)

/Sinayoko 61 - Daka 90+2/

South Africa - Angola 2-1 (1-1)

/Appollis 21, Foster 79 - Show 35/

Egypt - Zimbabwe 2-1 (0-1)

/Marmoush 64, Salah 90+1 - Dube 20/

Tuesday

DR Congo - Benin 1-0 (1-0)

/Bongonda 16/

Senegal - Botswana 3-0 (1-0)

/Jackson 40, 58, Ndiaye C. 90/

Nigeria - Tanzania 2-1 (1-0)

/Ajayi 36, Lookman 52 - M'Mombwa 50/

Tunisia - Uganda 3-1 (2-0)

/Mejbri 10, Achouri 40, 64 - Omedi 90+2/

Wednesday

15.30: (1.80) Burkina Faso (3.50) Equatorial Guinea (4.70)

18.00: (1.45) Algeria (4.20) Sudan (8.00)

20.30: (1.40) Ivory Coast (4.50) Mozambique (8.50)

23.00: (2.15) Cameroon (3.25) Gabon (3.60)

***odds are subject to change***